Ingredients
Drink
- 250 mlcold lager
- 250 mlcold French limonade
- 15 mlgrenadine
Also
- a chilled tall glass
Optional
- ice, though most cafés serve it without
Directions
- Chill the beer, the lemonade and the glass thoroughly. Everything must be properly cold.
- Pour the grenadine into the bottom of the tall glass first. Grenadine first, because it is dense and syrupy and will not mix in if it goes on top.
- Add the beer slowly down the side of a tilted glass.
- Stir once, gently, with a long spoon, just enough to bring the colour up evenly. It should end up a clear pale pink rather than red.
- Use a light lager rather than anything hoppy, bitter or dark.
- Serve immediately, without ice in most French cafés, though ice is not wrong.
Technique
- It is low in alcohol by design, which is part of why it is ordered in the afternoon.
- Grenadine should be made from pomegranate rather than red corn syrup, though most cafés use the latter.
- A demi is the standard café measure, about 250 ml.
Substitutions
- Sprite or a clear lemon soda in place of French limonade.
- Any pale lager or pilsner.
Variations
- Panaché, without grenadine.
- Tango, with beer and grenadine only.
- Picon bière, with Amer Picon instead.
History
A common French café order, part of the panaché family of beer and lemonade mixes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Monaco?
Monaco is a cocktail from France: lager with lemonade and a dash of grenadine, a café standard. A common French café order, part of the panaché family of beer and lemonade mixes.
How long does Monaco take to make?
Monaco takes 2 min of preparation and no cooking at all. The recipe makes 1 glass. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Monaco?
Yes, within limits. Sprite or a clear lemon soda in place of French limonade. Any pale lager or pilsner.
What is the most important thing to get right in Monaco?
Chill the beer, the lemonade and the glass thoroughly. Everything must be properly cold.
